The manner in which we approach achieving business and professional goals are often similar to the approach taken for personal goals. Or are they? After all, they are both important otherwise we wouldn’t devote the time to even think about them. I tend to see more passion applied to personal goals as opposed to business goals. Perhaps the approaches are similar but the individual buy-in is the differentiator? Here are a few observations that highlight the differences.
I’m amazed at the lengths we take to reach personal goals. Whether they are financial or health related goals, we go all in. We download apps to track our meals, and wear watches that track our steps and the number of calories we burn. We hit countless golf balls at the range and share our scores online with our friends. We day-trade or have side hustles that fund a college education, a retirement or that favorite vacation trip. We review the results on a daily basis, like jumping on the scale each morning, and adjust accordingly. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we are all-in.
How about those business and professional development goals – how are we doing with these? We start each year with specific goals – revenue, on-time performance, and quality goals for example. We create elaborate spreadsheets and dashboards and announce the initiatives at the company meeting. With excitement and high hopes, we begin the annual journey. All is good until we start missing some targets. When a change in direction is necessary or that difficult conversation needs to take place with a team member, we sometimes pass on the opportunity and hope that things will get better. Remember, hope is not a strategy.
And then there are the professional development goals. You know, like how many books you’ll read this year, how much sales growth (and income) you’ll achieve, and all those networking and education events that you’ll attend. Is the level of passion around these goals in line with the passion you have for lowering your golf score? I see folks who are in jobs that they really enjoy approach their goals much differently than those who view their jobs as a means to a paycheck. What’s that saying, if you do what you like, you’ll never work a day in your life.
It’s interesting to observe the varied levels of excitement and passion when people discuss their personal goals and then their business goals. One reflection is that we tend to have more control over our personal goals as opposed to the many variables in achieving our business goals. Reaching business goals is often done through the efforts of many people, as opposed to our own determination.
I’m not nearly smart enough to know the psychology behind why we achieve some goals and not others. I have observed though that we tend to be more passionate about our personal goals. Does that passion equate to doing all you can to reach your targets, maybe. When the personal goals are lagging, the difficult conversations often take place in front of a mirror, talking to yourself to course correct. When business goals are not reaching their targets, it requires self-examination, but also working within your teams to identify the impediments.
My friend and co-founder of the Graphic Arts CEO Forum Bob Rosen has a way of attacking these issues by simply asking, “If these issues are important to your success, what’s in your way and how can you overcome them?” He has another approach that is equally as helpful. He insists that as a business leader, you shouldn’t be a prisoner of other people’s priorities (P.O.O.P.P).
I believe that we should approach achieving business and professional goals the same way we approach our personal goals. That may be too optimistic but may also be a good approach. Any thoughts on this? If you are already knocking your goals out of the park – congrats, if not, reach out to someone who is, and they will make the time to help you. Good luck.
Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to ambitious owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic insight, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at [email protected].
